[Intro — swung shuffle drums alone, a distant brass band warming up out of tune, crickets] [Verse 1 — low, dreamy, sparse] Stilt-walkers stepping over rooftops Tuba playing in the drain Lady with a lantern for a head Leading elephants made of rain Clockwork band in velvet jackets Marching out of step in time Every window on the street goes dark Then the moon comes down to shine [Chorus — heavy guitars crash in] Paper moon parade (parade!) Everybody's welcome in the strange Paper moon parade (parade!) Come out, come out and play (Ooh, paper moon parade) [Verse 2 — low, dreamy, sparse] Kid who never fit in at the school Is the drum major tonight Old man who forgot his name Is dancing in the light All the ones they called too weird All the ones who couldn't blend Follow the paper lanterns down To where the strangers turn to friends [Chorus — heavy] Paper moon parade (parade!) Everybody's welcome in the strange Paper moon parade (parade!) Come out, come out and play (Ooh, paper moon parade) [Bridge — swung breakdown, sludgy guitar solo, then the whole parade joins] Left foot (Left!) Right foot (Right!) Nobody's out of step tonight (Ooh — falsetto rising over the guitars) [Final Chorus — heaviest moment] Paper moon parade (parade!) Everybody's welcome in the strange Paper moon parade (parade!) Come out, come out and play (Ooh, paper moon parade) [Outro — the brass band marches away, guitars swirl and fade, sunrise birdsong] (Spoken) Same time tomorrow.
